Softball Opens Judi Garman Classic with a Win [Update: 2 Wins]
Every year at this time, Michigan's softball team treks West to participate in the annual Judi Garman Classic, which features a wide field of teams of all levels from around the country. This year, the Wolverines opened play with a match-up against a weak Loyola Marymount team.
Despite their unimpressive record, the LMU Lions managed to give Michigan some significant trouble in this one. Freshman phenom Meghan Beaubien was in command for most of the game, but one slip up in the 2nd cost her 2 runs on a LMU homer. Michigan started to scratch back in the B3 as Alex Sobczak made her way around the bases 60 feet at a time, taking advantage of a sac bunt, a ground out, and an error to make it a 2-1 game.
A Tera Blanco single in the 5th opened the door for Rodriguez to tie it up, but Michigan was unable to take the lead. After a blank 6th inning, Beaubien retired the Lions in order to start the 7th, and Michigan came to the plate knowing they just needed 1 run for the W. Three straight singles from Canfield, Peters, and Blanco got the job done, and Michigan walked off with a 3-2 win.
It's not one for the record books, and it won't do much to assuage concerns about the Wolverine offense, but the team managed to avoid a bad loss today. Hopefully it was just a matter of a long flight, jet lag, and an early start time. The team will have what should be a tune-up game against Charlotte at noon Pacific Time today before two crucial games against Baylor and ULL tomorrow.
Update: The team beat the Charlotte 49ers 5-0 in the second game of the day. Most of the damage was done over the course of a 4-run 4th inning. That outburst was encouragingly highlighted by a 2-RBI single from freshman Lou Allan, who has been out with injury thus far this season. In the circle, Tera Blanco and Sarah Schaefer combined for the shutout, scattering 5 hits.
We are very fortunate to have won the game. LMU made 2-3 errors to help us out today. Base running almost cost us this game as we were out of place many times and ran when we should of stayed and stayed when when we should of ran.
Keep you updated as I am sitting right by Michigan's dugout about 5 rows up if anyone wants to swing by and say hi.
Go Blue!
I believe the team traveled last Monday from Austin, so doubt the jet lag can be an excuse.
on to the next game. The definitely need to get the offense going and maybe this next game they will and start to build some confidence.
Hopefully it was playing down to the competition. If we can get the offense rolling, this team will be tough to beat.
Freshman pinch hitter comes in and hits a 2RBI SINGLE.
Michigan 2 Charlotte 0 - bottom of 4th
Another 2 RBI single
Michigan 4
Charlotte 0
Canfield is 3 for 3. Lou Allan got into the game as a pinch hitter and hit a 2-run single. Blanco has had little trouble so far.
Exciting to see Allan get in the game. Hopefully that foreshadows her making her way into the lineup in the weeks ahead.
Hopefully that 2-run single is a sign of things to come. We need another bat in the lineup.
I have tickets to the games tomorrow but it is forecast to rain all day. Bummer
and ULL # 18. Would be nice to win at least one of these tomorrow.
Does anyone know the nature of the injury ?
Correction. NEED to win at least one of these tomorrow. We're running out of opportunities for wins against good teams. Michigan softball earns its ranking during these 1st 6 weeks of the season. In non conference play. B1G softball just isn't good enough to help our resume for the post-season.
Beautiful voice too
Games in the tournament!!!